ROBERT EARL KEEN JR.'S SONGS HAVE MORE MEAT THAN A LONE STAR BARBECUE

The miniholidays behind the Pine Curtain have resulted in the creation of some demo tracks, and Keen is fishing around for the right record deal. His contract with Sugar Hill is completed and, as of now, Keen boasts that I don't owe anybody anything...other than my wife, of course."

I'd like to have something out as much as anybody," says Keen, but you can't put a time frame on art. I've got the songs, but I want to make sure I do the right thing for myself."

In the meantime, Keen enjoys his inexorably growing fame, especially as it is sometimes manifested. There's just something about hearing a reggae version of one of my songs done around a Texas campfire," he laughs. And no matter how successful he becomes, Keen insists that there is simply no way he'd leave the quiet, rolling hills of Bandera, Texas, for Nashville, Tennessee.

Shit, no!" Keen scoffs. We got a great bar"-Arkey Blue's Silver Dollar Saloon-300 clear days a year and every other place is a barbecue joint. Why would I leave?"